That's an epic road trip. My wife and I did Jersey out to Yellowstone, down to the Grand Canyon, over to Disney World, and back up (with everything in between) in three and a half weeks. You'll lose feeling in that right foot, so I hope you've got cruise control. I'd love to see you when you're out my way...

Not all, but most up through Vancouver going counterclockwise from Texas. Doing the west coast now.

Was going to hit you up for a visit (thanks for offering!), but the Crabtowne Pinball Club folks nabbed me before I got Delaware locked in. Will be spending a couple of days with them in Baltimore before hitting north Jersey.

You know, Nic, you've just given me a wonderful idea. When I retire in a few years, I'm going to do the same thing. Except since I have no marketable skills whatsoever, I'll just crash at different people's houses around the country for a night and clean out their refrigerators. After all, who wouldn't want to play with a Boob for a night?

Just thought of a tip for you: I hope you built in some time to get your oil changed at a couple of places. I had to do it in Colorado when I went cross-country. Keep it in mind if it hasn't occurred to you!

You know, Nic, you've just given me a wonderful idea. When I retire in a few years, I'm going to do the same thing. Except since I have no marketable skills whatsoever, I'll just crash at different people's houses around the country for a night and clean out their refrigerators. After all, who wouldn't want to play with a Boob for a night?

If you follow Nic's route you can crash at my place. And to answer your question... nobody.

...I'll just crash at different people's houses around the country for a night...

Nic, I think you started something here. We already have VRBO, HomeAway, and most recently Airbnb. I think I'm going to rush out and register the domain PinBNB.com to make these random trips around the country easier to plan. And in the true American spirit, I'll only take 20% off the top after I act as an escrow between traveler and pinhead with an empty couch/bed.

thought I was clicking a button to enlargen the map image and it was actually a button that marked it unsafe for work!! Sorry about that they should really label that better or ask you "are you sure you want to mark this unsafe for work?" in case you accidentally click it like I did. Anyway, bummed I didn't make the list but I understand the tour is a big undertaking, best of luck on the road. I'm taking a vacation with my girlfriend next week to Texas and will be at TPF Saturday so if I see you there or Pinfest in Allentown I'll say hello!

Just thought of a tip for you: I hope you built in some time to get your oil changed at a couple of places. I had to do it in Colorado when I went cross-country. Keep it in mind if it hasn't occurred to you!

great suggestion.

Nic, if you are getting near oil change time when you stop at my house, there is a tires plus on the end of my block. We could drop off your vehicle and walk back to my place it is so close. You will have to call ahead a day to get an appt.

Also a valvoline quick change place 1/2 block further if you want the fast and no appt route.

You guys must have telepathic powers. I got an oil change a few days ago (synthetic Mobil 1) and was planning to get another in Minneapolis. Needs to be done at a Hyundai dealer because I have an oil change package about to expire.

Ah, planning... has consumed many days of what I'd rather be doing: Fixing games!

thought I was clicking a button to enlargen the map image and it was actually a button that marked it unsafe for work!! Sorry about that they should really label that better or ask you "are you sure you want to mark this unsafe for work?" in case you accidentally click it like I did. Anyway, bummed I didn't make the list but I understand the tour is a big undertaking, best of luck on the road. I'm taking a vacation with my girlfriend next week to Texas and will be at TPF Saturday so if I see you there or Pinfest in Allentown I'll say hello!

Lol you can click it again to "un-click" it. Is this retribution for not making it to Wilkes-Barre?

I wish I could make every stop. The route itself had a mind of its own and decided who would be on it, due to being bookended by the Allentown and NW Pacific shows. If they weren't a month apart I'd have had more time for the east coast. Really wanted to make it to you, Funspot, Burdick Chocolate, and Toronto among others. Only a few days for "vacation" which come more towards the back end of the trip.

Nic, it looks like your southwest journey takes you through Tucson, stop 'D'. You are welcome to stop at Pecos' Palatial Pinball Parlour and I will open it up just for you! I won't be needing any EM help, but I have quite a few working EMs now. You can play my Middle Pop Pins, Spanish Eyes and Fan-Tas-Tic. I also have a Travel Time with a middle slot kick-back that is a lot of fun to play. Bring your sun glasses!

Nic, it looks like your southwest journey takes you through Tucson, stop 'D'. You are welcome to stop at Pecos' Palatial Pinball Parlour and I will open it up just for you! I won't be needing any EM help, but I have quite a few working EMs now. You can play my Middle Pop Pins, Spanish Eyes and Fan-Tas-Tic. I also have a Travel Time with a middle slot kick-back that is a lot of fun to play. Bring your sun glasses!

For the most part, yes. I have not sent out all notifications yet... and unfortunately Mount Vernon is too far inland for the route to work. However, there were enough midwest requests near St. Louis/Kansas/Iowa/Oklahoma to warrant an encore trip along a smaller inland loop... and you're in it. Will keep you posted.

Lol you can click it again to "un-click" it. Is this retribution for not making it to Wilkes-Barre?
I wish I could make every stop. The route itself had a mind of its own and decided who would be on it, due to being bookended by the Allentown and NW Pacific shows. If they weren't a month apart I'd have had more time for the east coast. Really wanted to make it to you, Funspot, Burdick Chocolate, and Toronto among others. Only a few days for "vacation" which come more towards the back end of the trip.
Of course, this may mean a round 2 is in order...

Haha I wanted to make sure I told you so you knew it wasn't retribution. I keep clicking it and it just keeps popping up "you marked this unsafe for work"? ugh!

Ha! I just put LEDs in my first pin, Hardbody, last month. I like the LEDs in the inserts and can live with color LEDs on the playfield but they cost too much for my budget. LEDs won't be going in my EMs any time soon if ever. It seems rather silly to spend $200 on a Project Pin and then spend $75 for LEDs! And that is just fine with me because I want my old fashioned pinballs to be as authentically original as possible.

I'm looking forward to meeting you. Nic, we will need to watch the weather for you. The I-10 corridor from Tucson to Phoenix can be dangerous during the monsoon. Convective thunderstorms that form in southern Arizona usually last less than two hours and when they fall apart north of Tucson they can cause haboobs, or dust storms. Tucson gets the rain and Phoenix gets the grit! You don't want to be caught in an Arizona dust storm.

Not all, but most up through Vancouver going counterclockwise from Texas. Doing the west coast now.
Was going to hit you up for a visit (thanks for offering!), but the Crabtowne Pinball Club folks nabbed me before I got Delaware locked in. Will be spending a couple of days with them in Baltimore before hitting north Jersey.

I chime in to mention that our 10th t-shirt pre-order just rolled into my inbox, which means we will DEFINITELY be printing these T-shirts!!!

NicsTourShirtMock2 (resized).jpg

All that to say, if you were on the fence about committing to a shirt-purchase without knowing whether or not they'd be produced, now all doubt can be removed! ...however, we do not have plans to print additional shirts, so this is the time to purchase if you're interested. Once again, you can head over to:

Beyond schematics and the stealth led recommendations (some out of stock at comet) what should I include on my next Marco/PBR order to have on hand for your visit? I've got most of the common pinball tools/rubbers/bulbs/cleaning products, but should I stock up parts like coils, sleeves, stops, springs, flipper parts, pop-bumper parts, or any number of other commonly wearing/breaking EM stuff?

Working on operational (mostly anyways) mid-60s Ballys Surfers, Bazaar, Magic Circle, and Williams 4 Roses. I'm new to working on them beyond cleaning PF so have no idea what most people keep on hand for their EM machines.

Also if anyone within a few hours of DC wants to sell me a Sheba, Grand/Happy Tour, Surf Side, Beat the Clock, Wild Wheels, or Reserve please let me know.

I think it would be cool to have Nic give out some "awards" after he is done with the tour. All in the name of fun, of course.

Hardest place to find
Coolest dog/cat
Best meal(s)
Likeliest place to see Bigfoot
First place I would like to revisit
Best sleeping quarters
Toughest fix
Easiest fix
Coolest machine worked on
Hottest wife

Hi Nic and all,
Beyond schematics and the stealth led recommendations (some out of stock at comet) what should I include on my next Marco/PBR order to have on hand for your visit? I've got most of the common pinball tools/rubbers/bulbs/cleaning products, but should I stock up parts like coils, sleeves, stops, springs, flipper parts, pop-bumper parts, or any number of other commonly wearing/breaking EM stuff

Coils usually aren't necessary however a number of 60's/early 70's Bally flipper coils are often weak. If so I recommend replacing with this... AF-25-500/28-1000.

Always good to have ample coil sleeves (for score reels, standard coils, and longer drop target/chime banks), q-tips, and isopropyl alcohol on hand. I'll have most other things.

If your pop bumper light sockets are crusty that's a good time to replace them along with new skirts and pop bodies/caps if need be.

One tool I recommend everyone get is a Dremel (preferably w/lithium-ion battery) with carbon steel brush tip #443.

I think it would be cool to have Nic give out some "awards" after he is done with the tour. All in the name of fun, of course.
Hardest place to find
Coolest dog/cat
Best meal(s)
Likeliest place to see Bigfoot
First place I would like to revisit
Best sleeping quarters
Toughest fix
Easiest fix
Coolest machine worked on
Hottest wife
(Okay, not really the last one, but you get the idea.)

I like it! Was already planning to do a profile of each stop if desired as well...

Host name:
Location:
Number of EM's owned:
Favorite EM:
Winner of best 2-out-of-3 on favorite:
Want list:
How did you get started in the hobby?

Yep, #443 for burnishing/cleaning contacts. It doesn't shed and is compact enough to fit in tight spaces at nearly any angle. Also gentler than sandpapering and leaves a smoother surface (although sometimes I will sand and then burnish if some resurfacing is necessary).

Those pinwheely-type attachments often send bits flying into my eyeglasses or skin and aren't as maneuverable. I usually prefer miniature sanding flapwheels (only when serious work is afoot!).

An "encore loop" is definitely in order. My plan is to return by the end of July... take a flight to Pittsburgh for ReplayFX (insane! how much is enough?!?)... and then return for another pinball tour within the middle of the USA.

An "encore loop" is definitely in order. My plan is to return by the end of July... take a flight to Pittsburgh for ReplayFX (insane! how much is enough?!?)... and then return for another pinball tour within the middle of the USA.

Be sure to text me about that beer when you pass thru Salem, Oregon...

thanks for the tool tips! Am I looking for the 8220 Dremel or will the 7300 Dremel be sufficient for the contacts?

BTW while we're at it, few other cleaning questions:
for playfield plastic posts and metal screws do you recommend plastic posts in a mesh bag in dishwasher, by hand in bowl, or something else?
And for metal playfield screws tumbler, ultrasonic, or something else?
light rust on legs- vinegar or evaporust or something else?
coindoor polishing?
Krylock backglass or avoid?

Hey there! Got a moment?

Great to see you're enjoying Pinside!
Did you know Pinside is able to run thanks to donations from our visitors?
Please donate to Pinside, support the site and get anext to your username to show for it!
Donate to Pinside